Aberdeen Boy At Home Following Extended Hospital Stay

Erich Schaffhauser reports:

Aberdeen, SD

What was supposed to be a few weeks in the hospital turned into 53 days in Sioux Falls for an Aberdeen baby born with a rare condition.

As a nurse in Aberdeen, Stacy Schriver is used to caring for other people. More than a year ago, it was her family's turn to be on the receiving end of care when her son Will was born with Esphigeal Atresia, a condition where his esophagus wasn't hooked together right.

"So at two days old, he needed emergency surgery. He was flown out at a day old to Sanford NICU in Sioux Falls," Schriver said.

Complications followed. So Stacy Schriver spent weeks in Sioux Falls with her newborn.

"The one thing I always wanted to ask in the back of my mind was, 'Is he going to die?' You try not to get on the internet and read about it but there are things that can go wrong; infections and things like that," Schriver said.

Meanwhile, Schriver's husband and three other kids were back in Aberdeen. She says that time apart was tough, some days worse than others.

"At the same time, I look around and see the other people that were there and, you know, some people are there a year. Or some people have these complications that will carry throughout their child's life so we feel truly blessed with the outcome," Schriver said.

One-year-old Will is now an active little boy. He has regular doctor visits, seeing multiple specialists.

He's had some complications since leaving the hospital, has some food aversions and respiratory issues. But his family is thankful.

"When you look at it, we're pretty blessed and lucky to have only those few minor things at this point," Schriver said.